Chapter 54: It Will Be Ridiculously Funny

Old Madam Li, upon hearing this, felt a pang of regret—wasn’t it true that the blessing had come from the young mistress herself? But quickly, she frowned in disapproval, her tone stern. “You mustn’t think that way. It’s only because you didn’t let greed get the better of you. If you had been greedy, who knows what might have happened?”

The midwife chimed in, “Indeed. You cooked for the young mistress for three days, and she saw your filial heart and your lack of greed. That’s why your wish was granted. In life, greed must be kept in check.”

Li Jia nodded hurriedly in agreement.

She had originally hoped for just one child, and the young mistress had bestowed two upon her—she couldn’t ask for more.

“I was wrong to think otherwise,” Li Jia said, frustration clouding her face with guilt.

The midwife and Old Madam Li comforted her, both believing Li Jia was simply expressing herself. After all, if she were truly greedy, the young mistress would never have granted her wish.

By now, Li Jia had completely forgotten that she’d given the pumpkin seeds to Bai Xi. Even if she remembered, she would still believe she’d benefited from Bai Xi’s good fortune.

Several days passed before Bai Xi heard about the incident.

She was utterly baffled—what did this have to do with her?

Yet, no one in Niuluo Village believed it wasn’t connected to Bai Xi. Everyone was convinced Li Jia had received her blessing thanks to Bai Xi’s fortune.

Bai Xi rolled her eyes in exasperation, glanced at Little Black gnawing on a bone, and suddenly blurted out, “Am I destined to become the goddess who grants children?”

Little Black paused mid-bite, lifted its head, and whimpered uncertainly, “Mistress, probably not?”

Bai Xi looked at the pound of brown sugar and half a pound of pork belly on the table. After a moment’s thought, she sighed—since the offerings had already been made, she could hardly refuse. She might as well accept them this once.

During the meal, as Bai Xi savored the braised pork, Little Black couldn’t shake the feeling that its mistress had been bribed by the Li family’s meat to become the goddess of fertility.

If Bai Xi had known what Little Black was thinking, she would certainly have kicked it in annoyance and polished off the braised pork herself, leaving none for it.

After the autumn harvest, the weather, which had threatened rain daily, finally turned pleasant.

Bai Xi rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction—why couldn’t the weather have cooperated earlier? Why wait until she was displeased?

But since she was going out today, she let it pass.

When Xiao Shunzi and the others arrived, Bai Xi told Chen Rui to bring out pumpkin seeds for them to snack on. The moment they heard they were pumpkin seeds, Xiao Shunzi and his friends shook their heads and waved their hands, their heads bobbing like rattles.

“Young mistress, we won’t eat them.”

“That’s right, young mistress. We don’t need them.”

Bai Xi was puzzled. “What’s this? Since when do you not like snacks?”

Xiao Shitou noticed the others exchanging uncertain glances, and, under Xiaoshanzi’s gaze, scratched his head and spoke up. “Young mistress, eating pumpkin seeds is said to bring children. We’re still young, and we’re boys—we don’t need to bear children.”

They spent their days running around the village, so naturally, they’d heard such rumors.

Bai Xi’s mouth twitched. What nonsense!

Originally, she simply didn’t care for pumpkin seeds herself and wanted to share them. Now, hearing the boys’ reasoning, she slapped the table in irritation. “No, you must eat them.”

“Huh?”

“Please, young mistress, don’t make us.”

Bai Xi’s face grew cold. “Hmm? You dare disobey me?”

Seeing her anger, the boys exchanged glances and, though their faces were set as if marching to their doom, took the pumpkin seeds from Chen Rui.

Looking at the seeds in their hands, then at Bai Xi, they wanted to beg for mercy. But seeing her waiting patiently, they glanced at one another, tossed the seeds into their mouths, squeezed their eyes shut, and chewed as if swallowing poison. Xiao Shunzi chewed extra hard before finally gulping them down.

After swallowing, they looked at Bai Xi with mournful faces. “Young mistress, we’ve finished them.”

Bai Xi, exasperated, waved them away. “Fine, off with you. Go have your babies outside—I can’t bear to see you.”

What?

Were they really supposed to bear children?

Their faces turned pale, like candles flickering in the wind, about to snuff out at any moment.

“Young mistress…” Xiaoshanzi stammered.

“Get out!” Seeing them linger, Bai Xi felt she might die of irritation.

The boys hesitated, but seeing Bai Xi’s impatience and suspecting she might make them eat more seeds, their hearts clenched in fear—one more handful and they’d be like sows in labor. So they quickly agreed and respectfully left the treehouse.

Bai Xi rubbed her temples in frustration. Seeing Chen Rui obediently standing by, she snapped, “You eat some too.”

“Yes.” Chen Rui replied and began to shell and eat the pumpkin seeds.

Watching Chen Rui eat calmly and quietly, Bai Xi asked curiously, “Aren’t you afraid? The others think eating pumpkin seeds will make them bear children.”

Chen Rui smiled, shaking her head. “Not afraid. The young mistress wouldn’t do such a thing. Having children is for adults; children can’t have babies.”

Though the words weren’t entirely accurate, they improved Bai Xi’s mood considerably.

She nodded, “You’re smarter than the others. Having children and eating pumpkin seeds are two entirely different things. Eat as you like and pay no mind to those silly rumors.”

“Yes,” Chen Rui replied crisply, continuing to eat.

She was nothing like Xiao Shunzi and his friends—she’d deliberately kept quiet earlier, hoping to startle them a bit, so they wouldn’t always try to drag the young mistress into adventures.

Watching Chen Rui eat pumpkin seeds quietly, as cute and docile as a squirrel, Bai Xi felt her irritation dissipate. She nudged Little Black and said to Chen Rui, “Come, let’s go for a walk.”

“Oh, and bring the bamboo basket.”

Without a second thought, Chen Rui obediently agreed and shouldered the basket.

Meanwhile, Xiao Shunzi and his friends, leaving the treehouse, walked on in trepidation. Some supported their waists, others rubbed their bellies, taking small steps—just like the pregnant adults in the village.

Xiaoshanzi saw Xiao Liu walking quickly and reminded him, “Slow down, don’t strain the baby.”

“Right, everyone walk slower.”

Xiao Shitou pouted, “Did you forget those with big bellies still working in the fields?”

Xiaoshanzi retorted, “You’re foolish. They’re experienced and have had two or three children already. This is our first—of course we must be careful.”

That made sense, so the boys slowed their steps even more, carefully avoiding larger stones along the path.

None of them understood why the young mistress wanted them to bear children—they were still so young, and couldn’t possibly raise a child.

How does one care for a child anyway?

Besides, they were boys—if people found out they’d birthed children, wouldn’t they die of embarrassment?